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By Timothy Eodu
The community leaving within Moroto Municipality was left in shock on Wednesday evening as two minors were swept by flash floods due to a heavy downpour that flooded Lia seasonal river, which runs in the middle of Moroto town.
The incidents happened in two separate areas, Narwosi and Katanga cells within Moroto Municipality and Nadunget Sub County respectively. In Narwosi two young juveniles identified as Lucia Ilukol, female juvenile , aged 13 years old, resident of Nasinyonoit village, Nadunget Sub County, Moroto District was swept by fast flowing waters and the body was retrieved and taken to Moroto Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for postmortem.
The other one juvenile, Hellen Aleper who was crossing the waters together with the deceased was rescued by the community members and was handed over to Police, who took her in to their custody pending handover to her parents today, 25.7.2024.
In Katanga, Evalin Sabuwa, female juvenile aged two years, daughter to Ali Oyetoi, resident of Katanga trading Center, Nadunget Sub County in Moroto District was also swept by the flooded river while she was inside their house, she was retrieved from waters and rushed to Moroto Regional referral Hospital, from where she died shortly on arrival.
COMMUNITY CONCERNS
Last evening’s incident has resurrected the overdue community demands for an action to be taken, to create a bridge in the area, which links Kakoliye village to Moroto town. Most residents also cross the river to access clean water in one of the boreholes and others from the town side cross to access Moroto central market.
Remah Naupe, a resident of kakoliye village faulted the municipal leadership for failing to construct a bridge even after procuring culverts, which she says have been left on site. Naupe also tasked government to construct bridges in other roads out of the municipality so that people are protected from floods but also have easy access to services.
She also faulted the leadership for failing to manage waste properly, which has led to a blockage of many sewer lines, something she attests that could have caused the flooding of the river.
Moses mey, who works at a washing bay along the same river and witnessed the tragic incident, recalled that they tried to rescue the victim but the flash flood was so strong for them to help the first victim. He said many pupils who were returning from school could not also cross due to the running water. Mey urged that the authorities quickly construct a bridge to aid movement for people and their goods.
Samuel Okiror, a boda boda man in Moroto says that this road connects easily to the main road but the authorities responsible for its construction have done a shoddy work by using sub standard murrum which is slippery. Okiror also blamed the leadership for not installing culverts which would make it easier for both pedestrians and motorists to navigate.
POLICE CAUTION
According to Michael Longole the Ag. PRO MT MOROTO/ASTU, they at around 0500pm registered two incidents of death by drowning following the evening down pour in Moroto and sent a team to conduct a rescue. He applauded the community for their quick response which resulted in the rescue of one minor and also retrieving the other who died from the hospital.
Longole however, warned the community members against crossing the rivers when they are flooded and the water is still flowing. He also advised the community to desist from constructing their houses near the river banks to avoid such occurrences.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Karamoja region has over the past ten years been experiencing a shift in weather patterns ranging from harsh weather accompanied by prolonged draught and also flash floods in recent years which have affected crop production, but also loss of both lives and property.
According to Francis Lopeyok Moski, the Executive Director Karamoja Youth Efforts to Save Environment-KAYESE, the forest cover that would retain water from the Mt. Moroto have been cut down for charcoal burning and as such, this could have resulted into the current flash floods.
Lopeyok also noted that with increased urbanization, most populations in Moroto municipality have started to encroach on the river banks, which to him, should be avoided to ensure safety of the people but also to maintain peace with the environment.
He has urged that to contain such occurrences, the community must maintain the forest cover within the river banks to support water retention, desist from encroaching onto the river banks for settlement and also find other sources of fuel , to avoid cutting more trees for charcoal burning.
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES SPEAK UP
According to sources in the municipality who are privy with the information of the bridge construction works, the engineering department is waiting for the weather conditions to normalize for them to start installation of the culverts along the river.
The source stated that they will ensure quality works on all bridges that have been earmarked for construction in the municipality to avoid future occurrences of the similar events.
FORECAST
Meanwhile, the latest rainfall forecast for the last 10 days of July, issued by UNMA, predicts wet conditions predominantly in the northern sector of the country. In the Karamoja sub region, significant rainfall is forecasted for Karenga, Kaabong, Kotido, Moroto, Napak, and Nabilatuk districts.
